Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch: Any hope of the Columbus Blue Jackets signing Artemi Panarin in-season are now gone after agent Dan Milstein’s statement yesterday.
Losing Panarin for nothing after the season would create a big hole for the organization.
The Blue Jackets could move him before the February 25th NHL trade deadline or hope they can re-sign him after the season and before July 1st.
Blue Jackets president John Davidson last week on what decisions are ahead of them.
“We have the trade deadline coming up,” Davidson said. “We have some things that are going to be taken care of, one way or another, by then.”
Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said he won’t let the statement about Artemi Panarin not wanting to talk contract during the season affect their approach.
It will create some added pressure leading up to the trade deadline.
“If we have to make a hard decision, we will. We like Artemi and we’d like to keep him, and it’s his right to go to the free agency. And if he chooses to do so, we’ll be knocking on his door July 1, but we’re going to go about our business here and try to win hockey games, make the playoffs and go as deep as possible this spring, too.”
Coach John Tortorella had a meeting with the players today to discuss the statement and the contract status of Panarin and fellowing pending UFA Sergei Bobrovsky.
Kekalainen said that his phone has been ringing off the hook.
Jimmy Murphy: Two sources have said that the Florida Panthers would be on a list of teams that Artemi Panarin would okay a trade too.
“Our focus is on getting our team better and making it as competitive as possible for this spring but also into the future.”
More from Jarmo → https://t.co/Bp98z6G4jY pic.twitter.com/1R7y8c5oM6
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) January 29, 2019
